January 23rd ushers in the Year of the Water Dragon
While 2011, the Year of the Rabbit was characterized by calm and tranquility, the Year of the Dragon will be marked by excitement, unpredictability, exhilaration and intensity. People respond to the spirit of the Dragon with energy, vitality and unbridled enthusiasm, often throwing all caution to the wind – which can be an unwise move: The Dragon is all about drama but if you take unnecessary risks, you may find yourself starring in your own personal tragedy.
Dragon years are lucky for anyone thinking of starting a business or initiating a new project of any sort because money is more available. Consequently we can expect the economic downturn to ease up a bit in the coming year. But remember, the Year of the Dragon will come to an end and you will be held accountable for unreasonable extravagances.
The Dragon Personality
People born under the Dragon are passionate, brave, self-assured and ambitious. At their best they are pioneering spirits; at their worst, they epitomize the old adage: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion. Unfortunately, this passion and enthusiasm can leave Dragons feeling exhausted and unfulfilled. But Dragons in general are blessed with good fortune. They are smart, enterprising and have a wicked sense of humor. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. Because 2012 is the year of the Water Dragon, the water exerts a calming influence on the Dragon’s innate fire. Water Dragons are more open to the views of others and they don’t always have to be right which gives them the ability to channel their personal charisma into real leadership qualities.
Health
Considering their ambitious nature, Dragons are generally healthy. They tend to be stressed and suffer from periodic tension/headaches, so Dragons benefit from incorporating mild activity into their lives. Yoga, walking or Qi Gong would be good as these activities can work both their minds and their bodies.
Career
Dragons prefer leading to being led. Jobs that allow them to express their creativity and autonomy are good choices.
Relationships
Though they have a tendency to treat love like a game, they can settle down when they meet the right partner. Their partners need to be strong enough not to be bowled over by the Dragon’s flamboyant, independent and stubborn personality.
Dragon Years
02/19/1904 to 02/03/1905 (Wood), 02/03/1916 to 01/22/1917 (Fire), 01/23/1928 to 02/09/1929 (Earth), 02/08/1940 to 01/26/1941 (Metal), 01/27/1952 to 02/13/1953 (Water), 02/13/1964 to 02/01/1965 (Wood), 01/31/1976 to 02/17/1977 (Fire), 02/17/1988 to 02/05/1989 (Earth), 02/05/2000 to 01/23/2001 (Metal), 01/23/2012 to 02/09/2013 (Water).
Chinese New Year traditions are a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors. Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the New Year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The first day of the lunar year is traditionally celebrated with kindness, leisure and harmony as this day establishes the tone for the year.
Many different traditional dishes are featured at Chinese New Year celebrations, such as spring rolls, steamed dumplings and whole fish. Oranges are given to friends and family to express their respect and good wishes for the coming year.
In addition to the festivities, it is auspicious to clean the entire house before the new year begins. Bright, happy colors, especially red, are preferred for decorations and clothing. And firecrackers are a great way to welcome in the new year.
Welcoming the new year:
Open your front door by midnight. A platter of offerings is prepared and placed outside of the door, if it’s raining place the platter inside the front door, this is done to pay respect and welcome back the land spirit and guardian of your home. Preparation of the offering platter is comparable to preparing a banquet for a party it is advisable to use all new and freshest items. At this time pray for a smooth and prosperous New Year, and write your prayers on joss paper. Typical offerings for your home would include:
Gold & silver Joss paper representing money
Colorful joss paper representing clothes
Water
Alcohol or and Tea
Bright flowers (reds, yellows, orange, pinks)
Fresh fruit preferably oranges apples (reds, oranges & yellows)
Lit incense ( in quantity of 3 )
(2) Lit new colorful candles preferably red
Uncooked Rice & Salt
Cooked rice porridge
Candy or cookies
Popcorn
Whole roasted chicken
After the incense burns down, the joss papers and prayer paper may be burned sending the prayers to heaven. After that is done, ask the spirits for permission to remove the offerings and give you the bountifulness of the platter. Then the uncooked and cooked rice, salt, liquids and popcorn may be cast in front of your residence. The chicken and other edible food may be consumed.
Thanks to Vicki Loftus and Allen Luong for the details on celebrating the New Year in the Vietnamese tradition.
We all have something we want to improve in ourselves. Whether it’s to improve that nagging back pain, to walk easier, to work at the computer with more comfort, to improve your swim stroke, to dance better, we all, in essence, want to live more fully. Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement® lessons approach these activities, NOT by showing you technique, but by helping you learn how to feel yourself move, and then how to move more fluidly and efficiently so that you can do the things you want to do. The lessons are easy and don’t require any particular strength, experience, or ability. If you think you are too injured, too disabled, too impatient, or too anything, you can still do a Feldenkrais® lesson because you will not be imitating an instructor. You will be working within your own limits and comforts, and also going at your own pace.
